A review by frogwithlittlehammer
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark reflective sad

4.25

The Bell Jar is kind of if Hopper was a young girl and wrote a book. Reminded me of a quote which I’ve tracked down and lo and behold it’s Sylvia Plath herself. “What horrifies me most is the idea of being useless: well-educated, brilliantly promising, and fading out into an indifferent middle age." Spoken like a true suburban woman (and like my deepest internalized pick-me thoughts), the underbellying fuel of the valium crisis of the 60s. So, alas, the relatability was slightly amiss BUT having miss secretary Maggie gylenhaal narrate the audiobook? Totally saved the reading experience, she really was stellar. 

Also I am interested in the intellectual neurotic woman who is considered “contemporary” for her time and her interest in injuries/maladies concerning sex. There is something more to it than an abject rejection to male interventions/being a woman in a relentless totalitarian patriarchy.